06 Yamaha R6, first impressions

[MD]

had a squiz at the new babe on the block. A fitting title because it's going to be screwed like a ...
Looks hot in red and white. It's certainly got the cool looks from the front and a sexy tight rear end. Did the usual, sniff it, pock it, smell it, sit on it, rev it ! very, very nice exhaust note. No need to waste money on aftermarket cans here. It feels as light as my 636, maybe a fraction lighter.
No demo in town yet. $17,500 for those interested.
Worth a look, it's a head turner.

[Sniper]

Where did you get to have your play?

[Fishy]

Had a real good look over the one they had at Paeroa on display, looks hot and very futuristic. Would love to take one for a spin.

[k14]

yeah saw the one at paeroa, very sexy. Feels strange to sit on (although i haven't really ever sat on a 600 before. Seat feels very wide and plank like. Meh still going to buy one, reckon i can save up the $$$'s in 6 months or so. Nice black one me thinks.

[gav]

So youre getting an R6 and a late model RS125 then? New job must pay well!

[Sparky Bills]

Very sexy looking machine!
And sounds great!

Not much more you can say.

[sAsLEX]

No demo in town yet. $17,500 for those interested.

new zx10r can be had for 18ish on road so not that sharp a price!

and the r6 doesn't look like it will change to GP style gear change (1 up 5 down) which is strange for a race rep

Had a sit as well and far perfer the position on my NC

[onearmedbandit]

What race reps have a 'race' gear change setup?

[MD]

new zx10r can be had for 18ish on road so not that sharp a price!

and the r6 doesn't look like it will change to GP style gear change (1 up 5 down) which is strange for a race rep

Had a sit as well and far perfer the position on my NC

1. It was at Motorad, Wgtn (Sniper asked)
2. Yeah that price will test the loyalties of Yam fans. Especially with the Triumph 675 due any week at probably $16,900 to $17,900 (my guess only), and near new 05 ZX10s are flooding showrooms and can be had for close or under $17k. $18,995 for the 06 ZX10. We are so spoilt for choice - bring it on. Still I found the R6 a beautiful looking machine.
3. Who would want an upside down gear shift on a road bike? Confuse the hell out of most of us.

[imdying]

What race reps have a 'race' gear change setup?

I think he means it'll be hard to convert over?

[k14]

What race reps have a 'race' gear change setup?

None, but virtually all can be modified to do it by just reversing the side the cam off the gear shift linkage is on the spline going into the gearbox.

Who would want an upside down gear shift on a road bike? Confuse the hell out of most of us.?

Maybe the people that use that setup for racing. It can get you into alot of problems if you use both, it is very hard to rewire the brain if your road bike is normal and your race bike is race pattern.

The r6 would have clearance issues between the rocker and the frame. It will probably be possible but it won't just be a simple undo the bolt and swap around. Might require changing of the shift linkage length. If not then i'd have to buy an aftermarket setup. It seems odd to me cause it is basically a purpose built race bike homologated for the road so its allowed in supersport. I'd say the great majority of supersport racers would use race pattern change.

[k14]

I think he means it'll be hard to convert over?

Yep, on my old cbr250 it was a 2 min job with a 10mm spanner. On saslex's nc30 it was the same case. As is with most other sports bikes i have come across. Even was able to do it on my bucket with minimum fuss. Whereas on the r6 (and also the latest r1) it will require a fair amount of stuffing around. Something like this would be a big enough point to stop me buying one, say if something like the k6 gixxer was just a easy 2 min job to setup like that.

[Hitcher]

Read the track test review http://www.motorcycledaily.com/20february06_06r6.html

[onearmedbandit]

I think he means it'll be hard to convert over?

My BAD, mis-read the post.

[sAsLEX]

"I accidently downshifted the bike while coming down the hill from Turn 4 (I'm used to running a race shift pattern on my GP bikes).

if the slipper clutch hadn't been working so well I would probably be writing this article from a hospital bed"

"Flipping the linkage to a GP shift pattern (the only request Yamaha refused for our test) would no doubt allow a smooth speed shift since the upshift action could be executed more quickly."

Not only me complaining about the GP shift, noted that FFs r6 had the shift linkage going through the frame so maybe its an r6 trait not to be able to swap over to gp shift.......oh well will have to see what Honda and Suzi are offering